MAGIC TO DREAM ABOUT . . .

The night air is crisp, illuminated by a brilliant full moon
it's hard to go back to sleep, knowing dawn will break soon
heard thumpings in middle of night, reverberating in still air
huddled deeper into sleeping bag, wondering what went there

Dawn breaks, casting orange glow over sparsely wooded plain
as it gets lighter and hotter, it swallows setting moon again
the morning chorus of suberb songsters, like Sun- and Cat-bird
others, because of smaller numbers, dry habitat, seldom heard

Sheer walls of Gorge, in early light reveal eons of earth's history
before the Dreamtime, richly sculpted rockface, rise majestically
along walking track, deep water holes, shimmering crystal clear
flowering Wattles, Bottlebrush, shade, pause a moment here

Above gorge, lookout providing spectacular panoramic view
a landscape tortured thru the ages, awe inspiring, old, yet new
potholed creekbed, resembling dinosaur foot prints, imagination
small lizards sunning themselves, wild flowers, plenty of variation

Exploring, hiking, photographing, swimming, whatever is the case
time out to contemplate dramatic landscape, beauty of this place
words fail to describe its existence, it seems unlikely and yet
it ever so slowly evolved over time with every sunrise and sunset

Traveling in this amazing land, many more such places to be seen
some are easy to reach, others take a bit of effort if you're keen
now that the holidays are over and back to reality, daily grind
often daydreaming about magical Porcupine Gorge we did find

The KIMBERLEYS . . .

The parched, unforgiving, expanse of what is the Kimberleys
does hide land full of unexpected beauty, Aboriginal mystery
beautiful Wandjina Gorge, Tunnel Creek and the Lennard River
each has it's own surprises that overwhelm, make you shiver

Tall majestic walls of Standley Chasm, waters of Tunnel Creek
bats wheeling in caves, crocodiles slithering into muddy deep
day comes to a close in quiet surroundings, dramatic change
unnerving sound of giant flying crickets coming from the range

Sunrise, sunset, spectacular affairs, imprinting upon memory
one becomes aware why this land is sacred to the Aboriginie
endless expanse of Kimberley counry, empty rocky yellow plain
dry short stunted trees, cloudless azure sky, land crying for rain

Kimberley's isolation, still connecting Aboriginals to this land
ancient people, rich culture, sometimes taking extreme stand
stories of Rainbow Serpent, Earth Snake, others, still being told
a people, proud of ancestral Dreamtime stories, keeping hold

The mysteriousness of this land, makes you want to come back
retracing steps, just wander, experience again The Outback
The Kimberleys, seemingly an inhospitable land at first glance
but, after being there a short while, will delight, give it a chance

WHY EVER GO ABROAD . . .

We've got eucalypts, wattles, unique wildflowers,
deserts and endless plains, panoramic horizons,
nature's beauty and starkness, contrasts overpower
floods, droughts, fires sometimes the landscape scar
sprawling cities, towns far flung, loneliness, isolation,
salt lakes, rainforests at ocean shore, history, folklore,
struggles to farm the land, ingenious innovations,
land of Aboriginal myth, mysterious rock paintings
where seemingly ever none or tranquil rivers flow,
unleashing their destructive powers when in flood,
where majestic eucalypts and river gums grow,
mangroves, tangled roots, smelly bottomless mud
there is mining of opals, emeralds, iron ore, lead, zinc
copper, gold, manganese, our technology and science
is up there with the world's best, diamonds and oil,
in times of world conflicts surely have passed the test,
to many nationalities we are a land of milk and honey,
temperate climates, can follow sunshine all year round,
social security, governments freely handing out money,
no passport needed wherever in this Australia you go,
land of the emu, kangaroo, kookaburra, crocodiles,
brumbies, galahs, rabbits, brolga, cane toad, yabbies,
billabongs, Southern Cross in sky on cloudless nights,
comfortable lifestyle, carry a swag if you like and roam,
having all this, why wouldn't you call it Home, sweet Home.